Gleanings…from the Web

This edition's summary covers reports to the Virginia Birds listserv for the period from November 19 th to January 25 th. Individuals interested in subscribing to this listserv or reading its archives can find directions on the VSO web page (www.vabirds.org). Inclusion in this column does not imply that the sighting has been accepted by VARCOM (the VSO's Records Committee), or verified in any other way. Nor does exclusion of a sighting from this column imply that a particular sighting was not noteworthy.

While not a fabulous winter for northern finches, this season has offered considerably more than last. The most unusual was a single Common Redpoll that visited a feeder at Mason Neck State Park in Fairfax Co. (1/22). Single Snow Buntings showed up both at Whitetop Mountain in Grayson Co. (12/2) and in the Williamsburg area (1/9-1/25). And Evening Grosbeaks were found in Prince William Co. (5 on 11/19), at Whitetop Gap near Whitetop Mountain (2 on 12/8), in Hanover Co. near Richmond (a large flock on 1/4), and in Konnarock near Whitetop Mountain (11 on 1/9). There have also been more crossbill reports than last winter. As is typical, Red Crossbills have been more frequent, with a flock at Chincoteague NWR (11/29) and an unspecified number at Kiptopeke (late November), three in Rockingham Co. (12/22), and a single fly by in Orange Co. (1/4). White-winged Crossbills were reported only from the Eastern Shore , with twelve at Chincoteague NWR (11/25) and an unspecified number at Kiptopeke in late November. Finally, reports of Purple Finches and Pine Siskins have declined since the numerous sightings in October and early November, but these species are still being seen relatively widely.

Turning to waterbirds, this winter is offering many unusual sightings for those living near the Chesapeake Bay or able to make a trip there, with gulls leading the flock. A Sabine’s Gull seen at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) during the VSO’s trip to the Virginia Beach area was one of the earlier and more noteworthy sightings (12/9), having been blown in by strong winds. Also reported at the CBBT in December was a Thayer’s Gull (12/25, 1/4), a possible Yellow-legged Gull (12/24), a Common Gull (Eurasian race as opposed to western or Mew Gull race, on 12/26), a Black-headed Gull (12/29,31), Iceland Gull (12/26, 28 as well as one in Accomack Co. 12/15), Black-legged Kittiwakes (3 on 12/9 and 1 on 12/22, as well as two on the Newport News CBC on 12/15), and Little Gulls (3 on 12/26 in addition to one at Chincoteague NWR on 12/25). Lesser Black-backed Gulls were found widely and often in significant numbers, beginning with an estimated 30 at the CBBT on 12/26, and including numerous other sightings of this species. Also near the bay was a Franklin Gull on the Newport News count (12/15). And inland at the Prince William Co. landfill, both Glaucous Gull (2 on 12/31 and 1 on 1/23) and Glaucous-winged Gull (12/31) were reported. The later species has yet to be substantiated as occurring in Virginia .

Loons, grebes, and waterfowl have likewise made for an interesting winter thus far. Very noteworthy was a Pacific Loon found at Virginia Beach just prior to the VSO trip there (11/30), as well as a Clark’s Grebe reported in that area on two separate occasions (12/18, 12/31). Not as remarkable but still significant have been sightings of Red-necked Grebe at the CBBT (12/9), on the Newport News count (12/15), and on the Back Bay count (12/29). Among geese of interest have been Ross’ Goose at three separate locations: Northampton Co. (12/8), Chincoteague NWR (12/9,25), and on the Hopewell count near Richmond (12/16). A Barnacle Goose first seen at Dyke Marsh in Fairfax Co. (1/6) and then present in the greater Alexandria area through the rest of the period is considered to possibly be a wild bird and not an escaped captive, and a Greater White-fronted Goose has been seen in both Fauquier Co. (12/16, 1/25) and Northampton Co. (12/30,31). Significant when seen inland have been Snow Geese in Botetourt Co. (4 on 12/8), Rockingham Co. (4 on 12/31), and Russell Co. (17 on 12/31). And considering ducks, the Harlequin Duck is always sought after, and has been regular at the CBBT (12/11, 12/25-31), as well as having been found on the Back Bay count (12/29). A Common Eider was seen at Chincoteague NWR (11/23-24, 30), and a Eurasian Wigeon was found on a count in Fauquier Co. (12/16). Finally, a Black Scoter was seen in Augusta Co. (12/8); this is a first record for the county and one of only a handful of records for the mountain and valley region.

The relatively mild weather, especially during Christmas Count time, led to a number of reports of lingering passerine migrants, especially near the coast, as expected. Among the warblers found were a Yellow-throated Warbler in Prince William Co. (11/24) and Chesterfield Co. (1/14), a Nashville Warbler in Northampton Co. (12/30 and 1/12), and a Yellow Warbler both at Kerr Reservoir (11/23 and 1/1) and in Alexandria (12/15). Away from the coast, other significant findings were of a House Wren and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Danville (12/5), a Lincoln’s Sparrow both in Prince William Co. (12/22) and at a feeder in Winchester (12/25), and a Henslow’s Sparrow in Fauquier Co. (12/16).

A few western vagrants have also been seen. A Clay-colored Sparrow has cooperated for birders by lingering at a powerline cut near Manassas Battlefield National Park since being found on a count December 22 nd. A Brewer’s Blackbird was found both in Blacksburg (11/29) and in Northampton Co. (12/8-9), while two adult Yellow-headed Blackbirds (male and female) were seen in Culpeper Co. (12/17), with another adult male in Northampton Co. (1/13). And hummingbirds of the genus Selaphorus have made a strong showing throughout Virginia this winter as more birders leave feeders up. All those banded thus far have proven to be Rufous Hummingbirds, and inmost cases birds are staying put and will stay at the same location throughout the winter. Individuals have been found at three separate locations in Williamsburg (all banded 1/22), at two locations in Chesterfield Co. (banded 11/29), in Fairfax Co. (beginning 12/1), at two locations in Loudoun Co. (one since mid October and the other banded 12/30), and finally one here in Lynchburg since December 6 th. Another hummingbird, possibly a Selaphorus also, was seen at Dyke Marsh in Fairfax Co. on the D.C. count (12/16), and a hummingbird of the genus Archilochus, either a late Ruby-throated, or a western vagrant, was present in Chesterfield Co. as of 11/25.

Snowy Owls have again made it to Virginia this winter. Two early sightings were at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (12/3) and at the Merrimac-Monitor Bridge in the Hampton Roads area (12/6), with a later sighting at Craney Island in Portsmouth (1/9 through the period). Searches for wintering Saw-whet Owls proved successful on counts in both Fauquier and Halifax Counties (both on 12/16). (As a note of correction to the last edition of “Gleanings”, Clair Mellinger this fall banded 122 Saw-whet Owls in Rockingham County , not the 222 reported previously). A Long-eared Owl was found on a count in Prince William Co. (12/22), and as usual Short-eared Owls were an easier species to find as they emerged at dusk to hunt fields at Chincoteague NWR (11/23), in Fauquier Co. (12/2), Culpeper Co. (12/6), Fairfax Co. (two individuals 1/8) and near Staunton (1/20). A Golden Eagle was seen passing Snicker’s Gap on the Clarke/Loudoun County line (11/26), while another was found on the Shenandoah NP count in Page County (12/16). Seven sightings of Peregrines and nine of Merlins were made in the last two months. Most of these were made on or near the coast, but the sighting of a Merlin on the Lynchburg count was the most inland of these sightings.

Gene Sattler